It’s that time of year again. All of the streets and houses are white, slippery, and covered in a layer of snow. Although winters in Rhode Island may be beautiful, however, the snow can be quite troublesome for the unsuspecting homeowner. The effects of ice dam damage in RI to your roof could leave you reaching for your wallet! Read on to learn more about this pricey form of property damage.
What is an ice dam?
“An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.” Essentially, this means that the snow is melting but catching itself from falling off the roof, creating both a pool of water leaking through your roof as well as excess and a heavy build-up of snow on the edge of your roof and gutters.
What Causes Ice Dam Damage in RI?
Ice dams are a common issue and occur quite often during the wintertime in Rhode Island. The cause of these structural build-ups is due to uneven roof surface temperatures. The mix of the internal house’s temperature, external temperature, and additional snow being added, are all direct causes of ice dams. In simple terms, a portion of the roof remains above 32 degrees Fahrenheit while a (lower) portion of the roof is below 32 degrees (where the ice dam forms).
What Are The Effects of Ice Dams On Your Home?
As the melting snow trickles down the roof, it finds tiny cracks and holes within the surface of the roof, getting into the home and damaging the insulation, staining the walls and ceilings, as well as paint deterioration. This will quickly form mold damage and mildew while damaging the structural integrity of the home. Icicles will also begin to form on the edge of the gutters, adding extra weight and damage to the gutter system itself. Water damage, mold damage, and roof leak damage are all very expensive results of ice dam damage in RI.
How Much Does Ice Dam Damage in RI Cost?
Ice dam removal can cost from about $700 to $1,400 depending on the severity of the damages. Additional fees to consider with ice dam damage would also be mold remediation, which can range from $600 to $6,000. Ice dams can be quite costly if not taken care of properly and within a given amount of time. This is where you’d want to use a public adjuster to handle your insurance claim so you are not responsible for paying any of these expenses out of pocket.
Is Ice Dam Damage Covered By Insurance?
Most homeowners’ insurance policies cover ice dam damage or any type of water damage caused by ice damming. This will also include roof, walls, and ceilings repairs as well. It is important to keep in mind that any damage caused by a lack of upkeep and maintaining the well-being of the house will be on the homeowner, so any unfinished work on your home could lead you to pay out of pocket.
What Do You Do When You Discover A Ice Dam Damage in RI?
The best way to deal with ice dam damage in RI is to give us a call! Using a highly trained public adjuster in RI for ice dams will guarantee a higher payout for your insurance claim. With our staff on call 24/7, we can send someone to your house any time of day or night to make sure the problem is taken care of immediately before we work on getting your insurance claim settled.
